Spill It: A Music Blog

Music Writing in Sports Column

Blabbermouth Chris Comer Pushes Web Site

State of Reunions

A couple of years ago, in CityBeat’s summer-previewing “Hot Issue,” I did a story about the rash of inconceivable Rock band reunions called “Cash Heals All Wounds.” Dinosaur Jr.’s original members had reconvened for a tour that came to the Madison Theater in Covington, hot on the heels of the successful reunion of the equally contentious membership of the Pixies. In the piece, I came up with a few seemingly unlikely reunions and gave odds on the chances of them actually reuniting with all of the founding members. A few things have changed in regards to a couple of those bands, so I thought I’d update.

Flaming Lips Is for the Children

… to paraphrase the late, great wiseman, Ol’ Dirty Bastard. A few months ago, I wrote a story about the rise of children’s music that is palatable for parents. Several other outlets have also done stories on cool “Kindie Rock.”

Rabid About Cincy Music

Writer, ’zine publisher and die-hard supporter of independent and underground music, Jack Rabid, was in Greater Cincinnati earlier this month and he recently wrote a little about his trip at the Web site for his long-running ’zine, The Big Takeover. On his weekly Top 10 list, Rabid cites seeing the recently reunited Libertines U.S. (they added the U.S. to avoid confusion with the cracked-up U.K. version, but they’ll always be the real Libertines to me) as his No. 1 musical experience. Rabid has long championed the band (one of the finest in Cincy in the ’80s) and, in his write-up, he says he’s waited 20 years to see them play live. To hear what the fuss was/is all about, check out the band’s Reunion EP, an overview collection the band has sold out of, but you can still buy at this download shop.

Blues Fest: Now and Then

This weekend, Blues fans will be invading the Mainstrasse district of Covington for the second annual Winter BluesFest. Local Blues acts will perform at various venues in the area on Friday and Saturday night (starting at 8 p.m.); a one-time $5 cover will get you into all of the shows. Last year’s event drew around 2000 revelers. Here are the performers and the venues that will host them each night:

MusicNOW Fest Coming Back

(Sufjan Stevens photo: Denny Renshaw)

Cincinnati native and current guitarist for Indie Rock darlings The National (based in Brooklyn), Bryce Dessner, recently got in touch to say that the avant/chamber music festival he helped curate last year at the Contemporary Arts Center is coming back again this year. Dessner, who also plays with Clogs (one of the performers at last year’s event), says MusicNOW is scheduled for April 5, 6 and 7 in its new locale, Over-the-Rhine’s Memorial Hall (next to Music Hall).

Concert Review: Chili Peppers Ripen with Age

(photos by Keith Klenowski)

After hearing from two friends that the Red Hot Chili Peppers peaked in 1991 with the release of “Under the Bridge,” I was frustrated with their ambivalence toward the Chili Peppers visit to US Bank Arena this past Saturday night.